AmP Reader Poll: The '08 USCCB Nominees

Maybe it's my frustration with political campaigns, maybe it's my recent relocation to Washington DC (the veritable belly of the polling beast), or maybe it's the fact that I haven't had a new AmP Reader Poll in a couple weeks, but whatever the reason....

This Monday (Nov. 12th) the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will convene in Baltimore, MD for their annual meeting [Related: AmP's complete coverage of the Bishops in Baltimore].

The first order of business will be electing a president and vice-president (CNS has a brief here). In keeping with tradition, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago is expected to take over the presidency (having served as the vice-president of the USCCB this past year). In fact, it's pretty much a guarantee.

However, the quest to nominate a new vice-president is wide open, so to speak. Rocco explains the process:

Once the new president -- who'll take office after the meeting's close -- is chosen, the remaining nine nominees will face off for the deputy's post, with the two top vote-getters ending up in a head-to-head.

Now, of course, the Catholic Church is not democractically governed. "Truth," Cardinal Ratzinger famously said, "is not determined by a majority vote." (Don't believe me? It's on a t-shirt and so must be true!). But some things in the Church are democratically determined, such as the vice-presidency of the USCCB.

Well .... actually, we don't get a vote in that election either.

But what we can do is vote in this Reader Poll (and then tell our friends). Campaigning is welcome - within reason - and please feel free to explain your vote in the comment box so we can have some good discussion! Vox populi!

Can't see the above poll? Vote here.

Now, the head-to-head voting for committee chairs:

Can't see the above poll? Click here.

Can't see the above poll? Click here.

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Thanks to Rocco Palmo who did the source reporting for this poll content. Brian Page of Christus Vincit has posted his picks here. "Domini Sumus" notes that "This may be the last year for where the terms for all the committee chairs end at the same thing. Plans are currently being proposed for 1/3 of the committee chairs to leave office each year."

As always, you are more than welcome to link to this poll. I'd like as wide a sample of St. Blog's as possible.

Related: After 3 years of abuse crisis, U.S. bishops' head ready for a retreat (CNS)